Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap
Key points
- The Feeder Cattle Indicator eased due to decreased buyer demand.
- The Light and Restocker Lamb Indicators lifted, supported by buyer competition and eased yardings.
- Cattle slaughter rose 14% after the eastern states’ public holiday, driven by Queensland and NSW throughput.
Cattle market
National cattle yardings fell 24% to 60,760 head. Victoria posted the sharpest decline (-38%), followed by NSW (-22%), and Queensland (-16%). The supply ease followed the strong 80,278 head of the previous week, which was the highest yarding since May.
The Feeder Steer Indicator declined 5¢ to 453¢/kg liveweight (lwt). Despite yardings easing from last week, feeder buyers were less active and more measured with offers. Light and medium-weight steers are experiencing most of the price correction.
The Restocker Yearling Steer Indicator lifted 2¢ to 461¢/kg lwt − driven by strong demand from Victorian restockers and buyers. The indicator lifted 16¢ in Victoria and the presence of southern buyers in NSW markets increased competition and lifted NSW’s indicator 6¢ week-on-week (WoW) to 468¢/kg lwt.
Sheep market
National sheep yardings dropped 7% to 107,826 head, fuelled by the post-weaning and spring shearing supply. With the new season, lambs continue to flow, increasing yardings 9% to 197,055 head.
The Light Lamb Indicator lifted 12¢ to 985¢/kg carcase weight (cwt), however, it’s below the 1,100 ¢/kg cwt seen at the end of September peak, when supply was tight. A yardings drop this week lessened pressure on the indicator as the seasonal flush continues, bringing the price lift.
The Restocker Lamb Indicator also rose – up 18¢ to 1,042¢/kg cwt, despite national throughput increasing by 8,112 head WoW. Active demand from feeder buyers across markets drove demand for restockers, particularly in NSW, where the indicator lifted 42¢ WoW. Light lambs in Forbes were sold to restockers for $196−$245 per head.
Slaughter
Week ending 18 October 2025
Cattle slaughter
National cattle slaughter lifted 14% to 152,947 head, after a short previous week due to the eastern states’ public holiday. Growth was driven by strong Queensland throughput − up 14% to 80,940 head and 11% above the 2025 weekly average. NSW also lifted – up 23% to 35,210 head. All other states, excluding WA, saw WoW slaughter lifts.
State-by-state breakdown of cattle slaughter:
- NSW: up 23% at 35,210
- Queensland: up 14% to 80,940
- SA: up 24% to 3,814
- Tasmania: up 17% to 4,426
- Victoria: up 1% to 24,999
- WA: down 3% at 3,558.
Sheep slaughter
National sheep and lamb throughput lifted 7% to 539,201 head, after a slow week due to the eastern states’ public holiday. Growth was driven by an increase in plant operation days compared to the previous week. Victoria lifted 2% to 257,057 head, followed by NSW up 22% to 130,389 head and a 5% increase in WA to 85,204 head. This week’s national slaughter increase lessened the gap to just 9% below the 2025 weekly average of 590,247 head.
National lamb slaughter increased 9% to 373,289 head, supported by gains in all states after the short week and the spring lamb flush. Strong lifts were seen in NSW (+19%) to 69,314 head and Victoria (+7%) to 202,504 head − the highest Victorian throughput since June. WA also significantly contributed to the national throughput, recording 50,351 head − also the highest for the state since June.
National sheep slaughter lifted 5% to 165,912 head, led by increases in NSW (+24%) to 61,075 head, WA (+3%) to 34,853 head − offsetting an 11% Victorian decline to 54,553 head. Victoria saw the largest previous week throughput and is seeing a growing supply of new-season lambs.
State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter:
- NSW: up 19% to 69,314
- Queensland: up 6% to 1,304
- SA: up 7% to 42,173
- Tasmania: up 19% to 7,643
- Victoria: up 6% to 202,504
- WA: up 7% to 50,351.
Attribute to: Emiliano Diaz, MLA Market Information Analyst
Information is correct at time of publication on 24 October 2025.
